BXBX NOVEL Chapter 74: Second-Rank Demonic Beast
"Idiot! You dare to eat a problematic pill? Aren\'t you afraid of dying from poison?" Lan Chang\'an knocked on its head.
The Earth Burrowing Rat squealed in pain, looking aggrieved.
Lan Chang\'an pondered for a moment and had an idea.
This was indeed a problematic pill.
However, it had four dao patterns, clearly indicating a low-grade second-rank pill, just with skewed medicinal properties.
After consumption, unknown changes might occur.
It could bring certain hidden dangers, like poisoning, adverse side effects, or qi deviation.
Of course, there was also a small probability of a positive mutation."Anyway, it\'s a middle-grade bloodline, let\'s take a gamble. Even if something goes wrong, it\'s acceptable."
Lan Chang\'an had the Evergreen Technique to fall back on, which was excellent for detoxifying poisons and healing. If the Earth Burrowing Rat failed the breakthrough, it would still survive.
The Earth Burrowing Rat rubbed against Lan Chang\'an\'s leg, looking at him with expectant eyes.
"Alright, alright! After the big auction, I\'ll let you be a guinea pig!"
Lan Chang\'an put away the Earth Spirit Pill.
...
During the auction, the flow of people in Huanglong Immortal City surged.
All major shops increased their stock, with higher-grade materials, pills, and magical weapons being more plentiful than usual.
Lan Chang\'an sold off the spoils from killing the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle, some middle and low-grade magical items, and other cultivation resources in batches.
The large crowd, with its mix of people, made it easier to cover up shady dealings.
With plenty of spirit stones in hand, he took the opportunity to purchase materials for second-rank talismans.
One day, in a beast material shop, he bought a second-rank middle-grade beast hide.
Lan Chang\'an was delighted: with second-rank middle-grade beast hide as the main material, the quality of the second-rank talisman paper would be higher.
This would increase the success rate of making second-rank middle-grade talismans significantly.
With good performance, he might even produce premium-quality ones!
...
A few days later.
In Water Moon Residence, Lan Chang\'an met Mu Maode again.
Mu Maode, wearing a bamboo hat, entered the courtyard and removed his disguise.
Inside the house, Guan Qiaozhi poured tea and then left, closing the door behind her.
"Talisman Master Lan, how did it go?" Mu Maode’s voice was low and hoarse, betraying his anxious state of mind.
"I didn\'t fail you."
Lan Chang\'an handed Zhou Qingxuan\'s token to Mu Maode and briefly explained the situation.
"Good, good!" Mu Maode was excited, increasingly recognizing Lan Chang\'an\'s ability and character.
"Talisman Master Lan, time is of the essence, I must take immediate action." Mu Maode left without finishing a cup of tea.
"Uncle Mu, I can\'t help the Mu family personally, but these three low-grade second-rank talismans are a token of my goodwill."
"And this jade slip, please give it to Xiuyun."
Before parting, Lan Chang\'an took out a jade slip and three talismans, handing them to Mu Maode.
Hearing Lan Chang\'an call him "Uncle Mu," Mu Maode\'s expression became complex. He solemnly accepted the gifts and left with a bow.
Lan Chang\'an had a hunch.
This farewell might be the last time he saw Mu Maode, this former Mu family head didn\'t have much time left.
The jade slip Lan Chang\'an gifted contained some insights into the art of talisman, mainly for first-rank talismans, along with some second-rank knowledge.
Given that he was familiar with Mu Xiuyun\'s talisman skills; this targeted guidance would benefit her greatly.
Even if she couldn\'t establish her foundation and become a true second-rank talisman master, she would still be revered.
"Senior Brother Lan, there\'s a bag of spirit stones at the entrance." Guan Qiaozhi exclaimed, bringing in a bag of spirit stones.
Lan Chang\'an took the bag, which contained eight hundred spirit stones, and he fell silent for a moment.
The Mu family was in crisis.
For someone as stingy as Mu Maode to produce such a sum indicated he didn\'t want to owe Lan Chang\'an anything.
It was a father\'s final act of defiance.
...
Huanglong Immortal City, after the large auction, saw cultivators leaving one after another.
Half a month later.
At the foot of Huanglong Mountain, Lan Chang\'an rented a cave-dwelling, enjoying the low second-grade spiritual vein environment.
This type of cave-dwelling wasn\'t considered high-end in Huanglong Mountain, costing only thirty spirit stones per month.
He set up the second-rank array Four Illusory Sky Curtain Formation in the cave dwelling. Combined with the cave\'s original second-rank protective array, it created a double-layered array.
The sturdy, yellowish-brown Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from the spirit beast pouch, its eyes shining, eager to try.
Lan Chang\'an nodded approvingly; the rat was in good condition.
The Earth Burrowing Rat half-sat on the stone bed, with several auxiliary spiritual materials and pills in front of it.
Among them was the teal-colored porcelain bottle containing the Earth Spirit Pill.
Everything was ready.
Lan Chang\'an stepped back and took up a position to observe and protect.
The Earth Burrowing Rat consumed several spiritual materials, its demon power rising and absorbing the world\'s spiritual energy.
Most of a demonic beast’s power came from its physical body and bloodline. As such, it didn’t need as much spiritual energy as a human cultivator when attempting to reach the second-rank. It also didn’t require as much effort.
At some point, the Earth Burrowing Rat swallowed the porcelain bottle containing the second-rank Earth Spirit Pill in one gulp.
Boom!
The demon power of the Earth Burrowing Rat surged, stepping into the threshold of a second-rank beast.
In less than a quarter of an hour.
Poof!
The Earth Burrowing Rat suddenly spat blood, and blue-black blood oozed from its skin, corroding the ground into pits.
"Not good!"
Lan Chang\'an\'s expression changed. He sensed the demonic power in the Earth Burrowing Rat becoming violent, its bloodline chaotic, almost collapsing!
It was clearly suffering from internal poisoning. The medicinal pill had reacted violently with its body, and it was on the verge of exploding!
...
A few days later, at the foot of Huanglong Mountain.
The spiritual energy above the cave-dwelling rented by Lan Chang\'an was abnormally agitated.
Such occurrences weren\'t unusual in the cave-dwelling area of Huanglong Mountain.
Many visiting cultivators rented caves here for cultivation breakthroughs, causing various spiritual energy fluctuations.
Only a human cultivator building their foundation, absorbing massive amounts of spiritual energy, would attract widespread attention.
Inside the cave dwelling.
Under the cover of two second-rank arrays, a powerful demonic power erupted, with fierce winds roaring and stone walls trembling.
The fierce aura was enough to make an early Foundation Establishment cultivator pale.
The Earth Burrowing Rat\'s body expanded, its face and limbs covered in dried blood, with a faint purple glow on its fur.
Its reddish-brown eyes looked at Lan Chang\'an with gratitude.
If not for Lan Chang\'an consuming two months of his lifespan to perform the healing secret spell at a critical moment, the rat would have exploded long ago, let alone advanced to the second rank.
The Earth Spirit Pill sold by Zhou Qingxuan had abnormal and violent medicinal power.
While the pill\'s effect was fine, normal beasts attempting to break through with it would likely not survive.
Bam!
“Get off me!” Lan Chang’an kicked the Earth Burrowing Rat clinging to his leg. “Clean yourself up!”
The rat, covered in blood and dirt, Lan Chang\'an found it a little disgusting.
"Squeak squeak squeak!"
The Earth Burrowing Rat bared its teeth in protest, using its demonic power to shake off the dirt.
"Your bloodline has slightly mutated?"
Lan Chang\'an examined the refreshed Earth Burrowing Rat.
Its more streamlined, robust body resembled a cheetah, with its originally brownish-yellow fur now tending towards orange-yellow, interspersed with some light purple.
Judging by his experience, the Earth Burrowing Rat\'s bloodline had evolved from the original upper middle-grade to superior-grade.
The Earth Burrowing Rat had just advanced and needed to stabilize its realm, so Lan Chang\'an refrained from testing it.
...
A month later, the Earth Burrowing Rat\'s realm stabilized.
Now, it was a genuine early second-rank demonic beast, comparable to a human Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Inside the cave-dwelling, Lan Chang\'an tested the Earth Burrowing Rat\'s abilities.
The original Earth Burrowing Rat was tough and skilled at digging, with some earth-based spells.
The slightly mutated Earth Burrowing Rat was sharper and faster.
Its offensive capabilities were more formidable!
Lan Chang\'an simulated that without using his trump cards, he wouldn\'t be able to deal with this rat.
After advancing to the second rank, the Earth Burrowing Rat had stronger defenses and natural earth escape abilities.
Moreover, the rat was now mentally sharp and swift.
With Lan Chang\'an\'s strong spiritual sense and body comparable to that of a second-rank demonic beast, along with the spirit pet contract, he wasn\'t afraid of the rat turning on him.
(End of chapter)